PREVIEW: The Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks will return to Europe this weekend for their do-or-die Round of 16 matches in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions, where spots in the quarterfinals will be at stake.
The Stormers will line up against Toulon in France in the first Champions Cup playoff match for the domestic franchises on Saturday, while the Bulls will battle it out with the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland.
In the Challenge Cup, the Sharks will have all the motivation they need to replicate the form that saw them clinch the title for the first time in history in the 2023/2024 season when they take on Connacht in Ireland on Friday.
With all three teams playing away in vastly different conditions to those to which they are used to in SA, where they have played their last few United Rugby Championship matches, they will have a mountain to climb. But given the high stakes and the fact that they are already in fighting mode in the URC, victories abroad will go a long way in boosting their confidence.
While the Stormers are high on confidence after three wins in a row in the URC, which has seen them occupy second position on the standings with four pool matches remaining, they will brace themselves for a desperate showing by Toulon, who may have won their last three Champions Cup matches, but suffered defeats in four of their last five Top 14 matches, two of which have been at home, which has seen them languishing at the bottom end of the French table.
A victory will see the Capetonians strike an impressive run of four out of four in both competitions, which will serve to regain the momentum that saw them win their first 10 matches of the season. They will, however, be mindful of the fact that Toulon defeated them in Cape Town last season in the Champions Cup, which will inspire the Frenchmen to replicate that result and bounce back from their disappointing results in recent weeks.
The clash between URC log-leaders, the Glasgow Warriors, and Bulls will be particularly spicy given the fact that both teams occupy positions on the top half of the log, and even more so with the men from Pretoria looking to avenge their 21-12 defeat against the Scots earlier this season.
Fuelling the South Africans’ motivation, they will be charged up for the clash, knowing that should they register a victory, it would bring Glasgow’s unbeaten run in the Champions Cup to an abrupt halt, and it would be particularly satisfying as they have won only one of their four pool matches in the showpiece.
While the Bulls boast a better attacking record than the opposition in the URC, Glasgow’s defence has been far superior, which is an area the visitors will pay particular attention to going into the match.
The Sharks find themselves in familiar territory to the Bulls, as they suffered a heavy 44-17 defeat against Connacht in Ireland earlier in their URC campaign. However, given the marginal difference between the teams in the competition, with the home side only one log position above the Durbanites and boasting only one more win in the competition to date, it could prove to be an epic encounter.
Making things even more exciting, Connacht are high on confidence after registering five victories in a row in the URC, while the Sharks come off a two-match winning run at home, and realise the importance of building winning momentum.
(Continue below ….)
Welcome to this weekend’s Rugby4Cast preview
MATCH INFORMATION
Champions Cup
Saturday, April 4
Toulon v Stormers
(Stade Mayol, Toulon – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 SA time)
Teams:
Toulon: 15 Marius Domon, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Nacho Brex, 12 Antoine Frisch, 11 Setariki Tuicuvu, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Ben White, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Charles Ollivon (co-captain), 6 Junior Kpoku, 5 David Ribbans (co-captain), 4 Corentin Mezou, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Beka Gigashvili, 19 Giorgi Javakhia, 20 Matthias Halagahu, 21 Zach Mercer, 22 Mathis Ferte, 23 Ma’a Nonu.
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Damian Willemse, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), John Meredith (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
Glasgow Warriors v Bulls
(Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow – Kick-off: 17.30; 18.30 SA time)
Teams
Glasgow Warriors 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (captain), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling.
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Olujare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Adam Hastings.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Voster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baque (France), Julien Caulier (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
Challenge Cup
Friday, April 3
Connacht v Sharks
(Sportsground, Galway – Kick-off: 20.00; 21.00 SA time)
Teams
Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Shane Jennings, 13 Cathal Forde, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Chay Mullins, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 Cian Prendergast, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Josh Murphy, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Joe Joyce, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Niall Murray, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 John Devine
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Le Roux Malan, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Ox Nche
Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Corné Rahl, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Ethan Hooker
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ru Campbell (Scotland), Rob McDowell (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
